PM marks anniversary of 7 October massacre
Sarah Basford Canales
Anthony Albanese has offered his condolences to the Jewish community on the second anniversary of the 7 October massacre by Hamas in southern Israel.
The prime minister’s statement paid tribute to Australian woman, Galit Carbone, who was living in the Be’eri kibbutz at the time of the attack.
Albanese said Australia stood with the Jewish community, “who feel the cold shadow of history’s darkest chapter in any act of antisemitism”.
“We will always stand against antisemitism, and so should everyone,” he said.
The prime minister also used the statement to show his support for Donald Trump‘s peace plan for the ongoing conflict. Negotiations are underway in Egypt over the first phase of the proposal, which would result in a ceasefire along with the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Albanese’s statement continued:
Australia welcomes President Trump’s plan to end the conflict in Gaza after almost two years of conflict and a devastating loss of civilian life. Australia has consistently been part of the international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza, the return of hostages, for aid to flow and for a two-state solution.
It is our duty to do everything in our power to see a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The state of Israel and the state of Palestine living side by side, within internationally recognised borders, in peace and security.
Key events
Natasha May
Indonesia ‘will not be offended’ by Australia-PNG treaty, Marape says
Ferguson asked James Marape specifically if it was possible that PNG could make a decision not to be involved in a conflict Australia was engaged in with China.
Marape said:
There’s a high possibility, when it even happens, PNG has a sovereignty in itself. This treaty was constructed within the fullest ambit of respecting sovereignties, in making their own calls.
Likewise Australia, if PNG was engaged in a conflict, we would not expect Australia to drop everything else and run to us. The treaty has provisions where there’ll be consultations that will be engaged. There’s a finality of making calls that rests with respect to defence force commanders.
Ferguson asked Marape on the other side of the equation – is Australia committing to assisting Papua New Guinea in the event of cross-border raids between West Papua and Papua New Guinea?
Marape said “not so much – we have a healthy dialogue with Indonesia.”
He said PNG did not discuss the treaty with Indonesia before he signed. “It’s a matter between PNG and Australia.”
He said Indonesia and other nations will be informed on the finer details of the treaty: “I’m 100% certain Indonesia will not be offended. They clearly understand where our need is. It is also in our shared interest – Indonesia and PNG have 800 kilometres of land borders.”
Natasha May
PNG prime minister dismisses ‘alarmist approach’ to China relations
Marape commended Chinese officials for giving Papua New Guinea “full respect to our sovereign interests” in the process of the treaty. When asked, he said Chinese officials did not make any direct or indirect threats as to the consequences if he signed this treaty with Australia.
ABC 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson asked: “This treaty is different because it commits you to act in the face of a common danger. That’s clearly in Australia’s interest, because PNG provides a useful geographic location as well as all the other benefits. But what does PNG get from Australia’s interests vis-a-vis a heavily militarising China?”
Marape said PNG stands to benefit in its capacity to build their own defence force but emphasised:
The construct of this treaty is a construct in peacetime for peace. This is not a construct to create war. It’s rather a construct to establish peace …
I don’t necessarily see China as [an] enemy. China is a good relationship nation, even with Australia. We, PNG, we trade with China. We do business with China, and so there’s no need for an alarmist approach in this conversation.
PNG defence Treaty is a ‘natural progression’, says Marape
Natasha May
James Marape, the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, says yesterday’s signing of the Pukpuk defence treaty with Australia is a “natural progression” for the two countries.
Pukpuk will require Australia and PNG to come to each other’s aid in the event of a military attack, and allow citizens of either country to serve in the defence force of the other.
Marape, appearing on ABC’s 7.30 program Monday evening, said there would be “interoperability” with the PNG defence force using Australian facilities and vice versa.
Asked whether ADF bases in PNG were a possibility, Marape said “not at this stage.”
PM marks anniversary of 7 October massacre
Sarah Basford Canales
Anthony Albanese has offered his condolences to the Jewish community on the second anniversary of the 7 October massacre by Hamas in southern Israel.
The prime minister’s statement paid tribute to Australian woman, Galit Carbone, who was living in the Be’eri kibbutz at the time of the attack.
Albanese said Australia stood with the Jewish community, “who feel the cold shadow of history’s darkest chapter in any act of antisemitism”.
“We will always stand against antisemitism, and so should everyone,” he said.
The prime minister also used the statement to show his support for Donald Trump‘s peace plan for the ongoing conflict. Negotiations are underway in Egypt over the first phase of the proposal, which would result in a ceasefire along with the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Albanese’s statement continued:
Australia welcomes President Trump’s plan to end the conflict in Gaza after almost two years of conflict and a devastating loss of civilian life. Australia has consistently been part of the international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza, the return of hostages, for aid to flow and for a two-state solution.
It is our duty to do everything in our power to see a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The state of Israel and the state of Palestine living side by side, within internationally recognised borders, in peace and security.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live politics blog, as parliament (plus Senate estimates) kicks off again. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.
Anthony Albanese has offered his condolences to the Jewish community on the second anniversary of the 7 October 2023 massacre by Hamas in Israel. We have more on this shortly, plus later in the day the Executive Council of Australian Jewry is holding a press conference in Sydney to mark the anniversary.
A hearing at NSW supreme court will rule on a police bid to stop a pro-Palestine protest at Sydney Opera House, while Victoria’s Palestinian community will hold a public vigil at Queen Victoria gardens. We’ll keep tabs on everything.
Elsewhere, James Marape, the prime minister of Papua New Guinea, has told ABC’s 7.30 that yesterday’s signing of the Pukpuk defence treaty with Australia was a “natural progression” for the two countries. More details coming up.
